I have seen this discussion slowly creep into other threads, so why not dedicate a thread to discussing the playoff outlook for the NFC. Might be kind of interesting to track how things shape up over the next six weeks.

Both Green Bay and Seattle have very favorable schedules. I would guess that they are probably the two favorites at this point.

I would bet that the Packers win the division.

They very well could. Though, I expect the Bears and Packers to finish within a game or two of each other, even the Vikings if they can win a couple of the remaining divisional games. Might be asking too much, its really hard to judge at this point.

It will take something. I'll consider this a playoff team though if we can beat Chicago. Thats what its going to take I guess.

I said 8-8 before the season, and thats what I'm looking at right now...

The Colts loss really didnt hurt. It was a non-conference game. The Buccaneers loss was devastating. I thought that was almost a must win game. The Seahawks loss was expected, Seattle isnt going to lose many at home.

It will take something. I'll consider this a playoff team though if we can beat Chicago. Thats what its going to take I guess.

I said 8-8 before the season, and thats what I'm looking at right now...

The Colts loss really didnt hurt. It was a non-conference game. The Buccaneers loss was devastating. I thought that was almost a must win game. The Seahawks loss was expected, Seattle isnt going to lose many at home.

The Colts loss hurts because we let that game get out of hand.

Even though its OOC, we could be sitting at 7-3, one game ahead the Bucs and Hawks.

I'm not disagreeing the Bucs loss was bad too. However they just got hot at the right time. Thats a very strong unit right there._________________

The Colts are a much better team than we gave them credit for, at the time anyway. While MN did have a lot of penalties go against, they still really didnt have much of an answer for Andrew Luck. He made a lot of big throws to Reggie Wayne and Donnie Avery. Got to give Indy credit, they are a very scrappy bunch. While the Tampa game was largely a blowout and the Vikes clearly didnt show up, they needed to treat that one like a playoff game and they failed to do so.

The schedule looks tough, but Green Bay, Chicago and Houston all look vulnerable right now. All three teams have certain issues that need to be hammered out and its actually pretty good timing to get the Bears in the next three weeks. The Rams is a must-win game and I really dont see the Vikings having much issue playing them. It looks like 10 will be the magical number to get serious consideration for that last wild card spot. Are there four more wins on the Viking schedule?

The Colts are a much better team than we gave them credit for, at the time anyway. While MN did have a lot of penalties go against, they still really didnt have much of an answer for Andrew Luck. He made a lot of big throws to Reggie Wayne and Donnie Avery. Got to give Indy credit, they are a very scrappy bunch. While the Tampa game was largely a blowout and the Vikes clearly didnt show up, they needed to treat that one like a playoff game and they failed to do so.

The schedule looks tough, but Green Bay, Chicago and Houston all look vulnerable right now. All three teams have certain issues that need to be hammered out and its actually pretty good timing to get the Bears in the next three weeks. The Rams is a must-win game and I really don't see the Vikings having much issue playing them. It looks like 10 will be the magical number to get serious consideration for that last wild card spot. Are there four more wins on the Viking schedule?

I'd love to see them win 10 and make the playoffs. But I don't see it happening. I see an 8-8 or, things go well, a 9-7 finish. As soon as we lost to The Colts, I could see that loss coming back to haunt us. Now I see both Seattle and The Vikes finishing at 9-7 and Seattle getting in because The Vikings lost a game they should have won vs. a weak (or, at least, unpolished-at the time) Colts team, or to The Seahawks (who didn't play all that well)-take your pick. Losing Cook for so many games hurt. But, really, The Vikings were lacking an adequate number of good quality players in their primes. They really have a few holes too many for playing consistently well enough to be a playoff team._________________http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9633/av5e.jpg